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. 2024 Oct 10;24(1):661.
doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-06872-7.

Maternity waiting home utilization and associated factors in the rural community of Dangur District, Northwestern Ethiopia: results from a community-based cross-sectional household survey

Mebratu Beguno Wondo  1 , Gurmesa Tura Debelew  1 , Merertu Tsega  1 , Muluwas Amentie Zelka  2
Affiliations

Maternity waiting home utilization and associated factors in the rural community of Dangur District, Northwestern Ethiopia: results from a community-based cross-sectional household survey

Mebratu Beguno Wondo et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. .

Abstract

Background: Approximately 80% of people in Ethiopia live in rural areas, where poor access to maternity services, accounts for the majority of maternal and perinatal deaths. Maternity waiting homes are residential facilities for women who come from remote areas to stay and wait before giving birth at health facilities, particularly in hospitals and health centers. It is a new initiative and one of the strategies that increase skilled care utilization at birth. However, there is no evidence on the status of maternity waiting home utilization in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to generate evidence on the status of maternity waiting home utilization and its associated factors.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional household survey was conducted from June 5-30, 2022. The sample size was calculated using the single population proportion formula, which resulted in 354 participants. The study population included mothers who gave birth within 12 months before the survey were selected by using a systematic sampling method. The data were coded, edited, cleaned, and entered into Epi Data version 3.1. The data were subsequently exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed. The results are presented in the text, figures, and tables. Finally, variables with a p value < 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were reported as significantly associated with the independent variables and outcome variable.

Results: The magnitude of maternity waiting home utilization was 36.4% (95% CI = 31.4, 41.8). Being knowledgeable about the presence of maternity waiting home (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.0-15.2), being able to afford transportation (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.01-5.9), being home delivery (AOR = 0.007; 95% CI: 0.002-0.031) and being acess to transportation services (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.2-7.5) were significantly associated with maternity waiting home utilization.

Conclusion: The magnitude of maternity waiting home utilization in the study area was found to be low. Access to and affordability of transportation services, being knowledgeable and being home delivery were associated factors for the use of maternity waiting homes. Therefore, increasing maternal knowledge, economically empowering women and respecting care while waiting at maternity homes are important for improving the utilization of maternity waiting homes.

Keywords: Benishangul Gumuz; Dangur; Maternal heath; Maternity waiting home.

Plain language summary

Nearly 80% of people in Ethiopia live in rural communities, where poor access to maternity services is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal deaths. Maternity waiting homes are residential facilities for women who come from remote areas to stay and wait before giving birth at health facilities, particularly in hospitals and health centers. However, there is no evidence on the status of maternity waiting home utilization and its associated factors in Rural Dangur Districts. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap. The primary data were collected using an interviewer-based structured questionnaire. The collected data were subsequently entered and coded with Epi Data software. Following data entry and coding, the data were exported to SPSS software for analysis. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the magnitude of maternity waiting home utilization and identify associated factors. The magnitude of maternity waiting home utilization in the study area was 36.4%. Being knowledgeable about the presence of maternity waiting homes, being able to afford transportation costs, having institutional delivery experience, and having access to transportation services were found to be predictors of maternity waiting home utilization. These predictors were more likely to increase the utilization of maternity waiting homes. Therefore, policymakers, maternal health programmers, and other stakeholders need to strengthen maternal knowledge, economically empower women, and provide respectful and compassionate care while women gave birth at the health facility and access to transportation services to improve the utilization of maternity waiting homes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Status of maternity waiting home utilization among the study participants, Dangur district, Northwestern Ethiopia
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Reasons for not utilizing maternity waiting home among the study participants, Dangur district, Northwestern Ethiopia
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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